The 2011 Middle Grade Fiction Nerdies Go to…

Middle Grade Fiction

Wonderstruck

By Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck was moving, captivating, and inspiring. I had this book on pre-order but when it arrived, my students begged me to let them have it first. Once I did, it passed from hand to hand, never returning to my desk so I could have it. When I saw a student finish it yesterday I swooped down and had to promise it would be read in one night. My students, as always, were right. This one is a stunner.

Katherine Sokolowski
@katsok

***********************************************************************************

Okay for Now

By: Gary D. Schmidt

Whenever you hear great things about a book and you go to pick it up, your first thoughts are, “I hope it doesn’t disappoint.” Well, Okay for Now is one of the books that I’ve been hearing about for months now. It is on most people’s mock Newbery and Printz lists. Everyone told me I should read it. Boy, am I glad that I listened to them. I read it in one day because I couldn’t put it down and I know that it’ll be a book I’ll be thinking about for a while.

Kellee Moye
@kelleemoye

***********************************************************************************

Bigger Than a Bread Box

By: Laurel Snyder

I am not a big fan of magical realism, so I was worried when I began this book; however, I am happy to say that Laurel Snyder did just the right balance so that the realism didn’t seem fake and the magic didn’t seem far fetched. This just shows me that if the magical realism is done well, I am a fan. I love how Laurel used the magic element in this book. It is such an original concept!

You can tell that Laurel Snyder put much of her heart into this book because emotions that grab at your heart flow throughout the entire novel. Rebecca is such a truthful representation of a middle school girl, specifically one who is going through a tough situation such as a parents separation and sudden move.

Kellee Moye
@kelleemoye

***********************************************************************************

Darth Paper Strikes Back

By: Tom Angleberger

I am always a little hesitant with sequels – especially ones that might end up in the middle of a series/trilogy. However, Angleberger really does well with this second book. I liked it as much and possibly even more than the first one. A lot of great lessons in the book without being preachy too. And I LOVE the reference to Robot Dreams.

Alyson Beecher

@alybee930

***********************************************************************************

Breadcrumbs

By: Anne Ursu

Middle grade readers will be mesmerized by Anne Ursu’s modern day version of The Snow Queen. Hazel is unhappy over her parents divorce, and she feels like a misfit at school. The only one who really understands Hazel is her best friend, Jack. Hazel and Jack spend their free time together sledding and playing in the snow. The children share a strong bond until something happens to Jack causing him to turn cynical and mean. When Jack disappears into the woods behind his house, Hazel must find the courage to rescue Jack from The Snow Queen. Readers of fantasy will appreciate the many references to beloved children’s books such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Alice in Wonderland, and When You Reach Me. Warning: once you pick up this book, you will not be able to put it down!

Cathy Potter
@cppoter

The Big Reveal: 2011 Middle Grade Fiction Nerdies

 

A second post with blurbs and videos will be posted the evening of December 23.

***************************************************************************

Jake is a fourth grade student and member of #nerdybookclubjr. When he is not reading, Jake enjoys football and theater. 

Mr. Sharp is Jake’s teacher. Mr. Sharp, like Jake, is a big fan of reading.

The 2011 YA Fiction Nerdies Go To…

Since I cannot bear to watch award shows live because they drag out the moment of WHO WON the categories I most care about for what might seem like HOURS or DAYS, I will not inflict such unnecessary pain on you, the dedicated YA fiction lovers reading this post.

The winners for the 2011 YA Fiction Nerdies are…

The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner

Divergent by Veronica Roth

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Shine by Lauren Myracle

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Now that you know who won, you can scroll down to learn more about these incredible titles, their authors, and even check out some book trailers with a slightly calmer heart rate.

The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner

Her website: http://gaepolisner.com/

Her Twitter: @gaepol

We teachers get excited when we see that something new, set in the here and now, connects up to something we teach. No exception here when we see that this makes so many connections with Of Mice and Men.

But that doesn’t really give credit to how she manages to create these wonderfully quirky characters that you feel like you know them – or that you want to know them, help them, love them.

But Paul W. Hankins (@paulwhankins) takes this feeling of universality and relate-ability farther than that feeling of having met these people before:

Gae’s characters are us. We don’t always know that we’re about to go on a journey. Our friends, our stories, sustain us. Gae captures this. How, when, and why we share stories is what THE PULL OF GRAVITY really is. Delivering a book and being delivered by a book. Powerful.

Powerful indeed, Mr. Hankins.

“I live and write on Long Island with my two amazing boys, my handsome, smart husband who sings, and two very “enthusiastic” cockatiels, Taha and Bobo (who are screeching to me now to be included, way loud from the other room). When I’m not writing, I’m still a practicing family law attorney/mediator, and when I’m not doing that, I’m swimming, or reading in my hammock in the sun.” Bio from http://gaepolisner.com/html/about.html

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Her website: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/
Her Twitter: @veronicaroth

Brian Wyzlic (@brianwyzlic) wrote to share what we teachers know is the best rating system by students ever:

“There has only been one book that has not spent a single day this year on my classroom’s bookshelves: Divergent. Almost every day, I have a student see the dust jacket, left behind by the current borrower, and ask “Is Divergent in yet?” It is usually checked out within minutes of being checked in. The waiting list is longer than for any other book — by a wide margin. It may not win a Nerdy, but it definitely qualifies for an award from my students.”

I’m with Brian on this. Divergent”s been missing from my shelves with a waiting list since I brought it in my room and told my students it took me five hours to read it and a waiting list for Insurgent has already been started.

“Veronica Roth is only 23, so her bio will be short. She’s from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote DIVERGENT (Katherine Tegen Books, May 2011). The second book in The Divergent Trilogy, INSURGENT, will come out in May 2012. In the meantime she will spend endless hours browsing Wikipedia in her pajamas as she eats corn flakes. (Or some other kind of bland breakfast cereal.)” Bio from http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4039811.Veronica_Roth

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

His website:http://www.patrickness.com
His Twitter: @Patrick_Ness

I remember Kim McCollum-Clark (@KimMcCollum) giving me a well-traveled copy of A Monster Calls in August and telling me that I needed to read it immediately. I struggled to stay up late enough to finish it that night, but succumbed to sleep a mere 40 pages from the end. The next day, I had a hard time focusing on much at the writing institute I was at because I just had to finish that book. I did not follow the instructions given to me by the many who had already been mesmerized by its powers – I did not have a box of tissues at the ready. But I learned two valuable lessons that day: crying at a large gathering of teachers will ensure not only concern but the necessary tissues and crying about a book while proclaiming it brilliant will guarantee that people start writing down the title.

I know how it felt to read this powerful book, but Teresa Rolfe Kravtin (@trkravtin) offered a much more eloquent review:

“A tour de force. Patrick Ness weaves a tale rich with layers of symbolism, paradox, and ultimately understanding, of grief and the incredible power love and acceptance. Illustrations by Jim Kay bring the images within the psyche of Conor to remarkable reality, and the graphic novel nature of the book allows the reader to experience Conor’s palpable, symbolic dream world. It takes a virtuoso to meet the difficult challenges inherent in such a project, and what Patrick Ness has delivered is an extraordinary gateway to understanding the process of love and loss.”

More briefly put by Lauren Peugh (@Lopopo5): “A beautiful, unexpectedly lovely novel about pain, loss, and forgiveness. The scary beginning will draw adventurous kids in, the heartfelt story will keep them there.”

As a side note, there is a hauntingly lovely audiobook version of this narrated by Jason Issacs that would be amazing if packaged with the book. I can’t imagine totally missing out on the illustrations since I read the book with them.

“Patrick Ness, an award-winning novelist, has written for England’s Radio 4 and SUNDAY TELEGRAPH and is a literary critic for THE GUARDIAN. He has written five books(Chaos Walking Trilogy, The Crash of Hennington, and Topics About Which I Know Nothing). Born in Virginia, he currently lives in London.” Bio from http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/370361.Patrick_Ness

Shine by Lauren Myracle

Her website: www.laurenmyracle.com
Twitter: @laurenmyracle

This book is not a light, easy read, but so many of the best YA novels are the ones that almost dare us to continue reading as we wrestle with the troubles and conflicts along with the characters on the pages. It reads like a mystery, but as Kellee Moye (@kelleemoye) points out in her review: “This is a book about more than just finding a criminal. This is a book about overcoming past injustices and obstacles and ultimately finding out the truth. The truth not only about the hate crime at hand, but also Cat finding out the truth about herself and others in her town. It is also about the thin line between good and bad. It is always not clear which side of the line someone falls. And sides change easily. This is an important book to have around and ranks up there with books like Speak as a book that is just so tough to read, but so important to share.”

“Lauren Myracle is the author of numerous young adult novels. She was born in 1969 in North Carolina. Lauren Myracle holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. she has written many novels, including the famous IM books, ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.” Bio from http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/157676.Lauren_Myracle

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Her website: http://www.libbabray.com/
Twitter: @libbabray

Lauren Peugh (@Lopopo5) offered this review: “Told with Bray’s trademark caustic wit, it is the tale of a planeful of beauty queens who get stranded on a desert island. Think “Lost” meets “Miss America”. Add a healthy dose of reality tv (in my mind, only large doses of reality tv are healthy!) and a boat of sexy pirates and you’ve got a hilariously snarky don’t-miss read!”

If the words caustic wit and hilariously snarky sound like fun, then you must read this book if you haven’t already. I have to say that I couldn’t stop giggling as I listened to the audiobook version of this (read by the author herself!), but the footnotes were what nearly made me shoot coffee out of my nose.  (If you’re prone to such unfortunate responses to funny things, do avoid listening to this on your commute to school. It’s hard to explain the coffee stains day after day…) The teacher in me couldn’t help but think about how nicely this would pair with Lord of the Flies or serve as a awesome example of satire, but I know that it’s more important that I put this in the hands of someone else who needs a good laugh.

If you’re up for an amazingly awesome interview of Libba by herself about Beauty Queens: http://www.omnivoracious.com/2011/04/ya-wednesday-a-conversation-between-libba-bray-and-libba-bray.html

“I lived in Texas for most of my life; I live in New York City with my husband and six-year-old son now; I have freckles and a lopsided smile; I’m allergic to penicillin.” Bio from http://www.libbabray.com/bio.html but you should really go online and read the whole thing. It’s so much more Libba.

Cindy Minnich is a high school English teacher who is more and more grateful every day for the authors who slave over their work to create opportunities for her to revitalize the readers in her classroom. Thank you especially to the ones on this list as well as those who were nominated.

The 2011 Nonfiction Nerdies Go To…

The Nonfiction Nerdie Goes To…..

Time for a bit of confession here:  I am not a big reader of nonfiction.  I prefer my books to have a narrative arc, a conflict, character development, and perhaps a little romance thrown in for good measure.  Don’t get me wrong; I love learning new things and reading about true events (especially history), but when I sit down to read, I tend toward novels.  However, that is beginning to change a bit.  Over the past few years, I have been working on beefing up the nonfiction section of my classroom library. As I read more nonfiction books written for kids, I realize more and more of them are written in a more narrative style and the photography and artwork in these books is top-notch.  Nonfiction books certainly aren’t what they used to be (and I mean that in a good way).  Just take a look at the winners of the Nerdie in the nonfiction category:

Balloons Over Broadway:  The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet

This is the story of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer who created marionettes for the Macy’s windows and then went on to invent the balloons we see in the parade today.  With whimsical artwork that matches the happy feeling of the story, Sweet creates a one-of-a-kind book that’s sure to become a classic.

Learn more about Melissa Sweet and her work here.

*********************************************************************

Over and Under the Snow By Kate Messner

This was the one book I was unable to get my hands on this week.  I’m kicking myself for not picking up a copy of it when I was at the National Council of Teachers of English convention last month.  Here’s what Goodreads has to say about Over and Under the Snow:

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white.

But under the snow is a secret world of squirrels and snowshoe hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals who live through the winter, safe and warm under the snow.

Those of you who follow Kate Messner on Twitter (@KateMessner) know that this book has received much love from those who have read it and shared it with kids.  I can’t wait to share it with my own.

Learn more about Kate here.

*********************************************************************

Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg

In the author’s note at the end of Queen of the Falls, Van Allsburg writes, “When I decided to write about Annie, I believed I was undertaking a project quite different from the fantasies and surreal tales I’d become accustomed to creating.  This is not the case.  There is something decidedly fantastic and not quite real about Niagara Falls, about Annie’s adventure, and about the stories that can unfold when imagination, determination, and foolhardiness combine to set humans off in pursuit of their goals.”  This quote sets the tone for the book perfectly.

Queen of the Falls is the story of Annie Taylor, a poor widow who decided to find fame and fortune by going over Niagara Falls in a barrel.  Undeterred by the people who doubt her ability to pull this feat off, she perseveres, and eventually does go over those great falls in a wooden barrel.  Van Allsburg’s illustrations are magical, as usual.

*********************************************************************

Amelia Lost:  The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming

Ever since that fateful day in 1937 when Amelia Earhart went missing, Americans have been fascinated by the famous avaiatrix and the mystery surrounding her disappearance.  In Amelia Lost, Fleming recounts not only the story of Earhart’s final flight, but also the story of a bright, adventurous little girl who would grow up to be a champion for women’s rights.  The layout of the book is reminiscent of a scrapbook, with many pictures to help tell Earhart’s story.  The back matter of the book includes resources where kids can go to learn more.

Learn more about Candace Fleming here.

Heart and Soul:  The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson

If I had to use just one word to describe this book, it would be breathtaking.  Nelson’s artwork throughout is simply stunning; the realism such that I could get lost in looking at them.  The full page (sometimes two-page spread) paintings somehow capture more emotion than the photographs upon which some of them are based.  As I write, I have my book open to the painting of Rosa Parks on a bus, her face in profile.  Her pride and courage seem to radiate off the page.  Once I could pry my eyes away from the artwork to turn my attention to the writing, I was equally captivated.  Nelson shows the reader how the history of America is also the history of African Americans, something that should be obvious, but unfortunately has been separated out by many textbooks.  Told as if by an elder passing on an oral history to a younger person, the book reads like a narrative.

This book deserves a place in every classroom library.

Learn more about Kadir Nelson and his work here.

*********************************************************************

So did you find any new titles you can’t wait to get your hands on?  I know I want to spend more time poring over each and every book on this list and then share them with my own children and my students.  Each of these books is a work of art as well as a treasure-trove of information.

Happy Reading!

Mindi spreads the #nerdybookclub love as a seventh grade language arts teacher in the Chicago suburbs. She currently serves on two book award committees:  The Rebecca Caudill Award For Young Readers in Illinois and the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award.  As a result, she is currently drowning in books.  You can find her on twitter as @mindi_r and read her blog at http://nextbestbook.blogspot.com.

The 2011 Poetry Nerdies Go to…

Oh, frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Join us in celebrating the 2011 Nerdy Book Club Award Poetry winners!

Poetry invites us to wonder in small things and dance in words. Poets observe and draw out the quiet, hidden, and overlooked magic in our world—a lonely cat’s dignity, our special bond with books, or the experience of growing down. Every 2011 Nerdy winner is a jewel worthy of repeated reading and sharing with children. I have included one poem from each book to tempt you!

Congratulations to the Nerdy winners and thanks for the wonderful books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Am the Book

poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins; illustrations by Yayo

Holiday House

ISBN-13: 978-0823421190

Author’s website

 

Book
by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Buried in blankets
Book in my bed
Snuggled in story
By heart
In my head
I wallow in words
Chapter One
Till The End

Closing the cover
I sigh—

Good-bye, friend.

Lee Bennett Hopkins, a lion in the children’s poetry world, assembles thirteen poems by revered poets like Naomi Shihab Nye and Kristine O’Connell George in this playful anthology that captures what we love about books and reading.

“I want to buy a copy for all my book-loving friends.”—John Schumacher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lemonade: and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word

Bob Raczka; illustrations by Nancy Doniger

Roaring Brook Press

ISBN-13: 978-1596435414

Author’s website

Bob Raczka accomplishes the impossible with this work. He creates unique, engaging poetry that poetry-phobic kids enjoy and want to imitate. Using a single word as the boundary and inspiration for each poem, Raczka mixes and combines the letters into new words. Letters cascade from their original placement on one side of the page–inviting readers to discover the poem. The complete poem appears in standard form on the reverse page.

“Doniger’s spare illustrations add quirky appeal without distracting from the inventive formations of type. More than just clever gimmicks, the poems leave room for moving lines with a depth that invites imaginative wandering: ‘A / silent / lion / tells / an ancient / tale,’ reads ‘Constellation.’ Sure to have wide classroom appeal.” —Starred review, Booklist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 BookSpeak!: Poems About Books

Laura Purdie Salas; illustrations by Josée Bisaillon

Clarion Books

ISBN: 978-0547223001

Author’s website

Calling All Readers

I’ll tell you a story,
I’ll spin you a rhyme.
I’ll spill some ideas -
and we’ll travel through time.

Put down the controller.
Switch off the TV.
Abandon the mouse and
just hang out with me.

I promise adventure.
Come on, take a look!
On a day like today,
there’s no friend like a book.

Can we declare an official book for the Nerdy Book Club, please? If we did, it would be BookSpeak! a delightful and smart poetry collection reveling in all things bookish from readers and writers to literary elements. BookSpeak! was the perfect book to share with my students during National Novel Writing Month as a source of inspiration and celebration.

Read Mary Lee Hahn’s savvy review of BookSpeak! at A Year of Reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every Thing On It

Shel Silverstein

HarperCollins; First Edition

ISBN-13: 978-0061998164

Author’s website

 

Years From Now

Although I cannot see your face
As you flip these poems awhile,
Somewhere from some far-off place
I hear you laughing-and I smile.

I hope in “some far-off place”, Shel Silverstein hears a new generation of readers and his lifelong fans laugh while enjoying his whimsy, word play, and warped sense of humor in Every Thing On It, this posthumous collection of Silverstein’s poetry and drawings. Silverstein’s family read and sorted through his unpublished poems for a year in order to select the work for this collection.

“My parents purchased Where the Sidewalk Ends for me in second grade. I still have my copy, with my name lettered inside the front. The book is falling apart; it has been read and reread so many times. It is in my classroom library now, so my students can see what it looks like when a book is loved. I will be forever grateful for a new volume in my Silverstein collection, made all the more special because it seemed impossible.”—Katherine Sokolowski

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku

Lee Wardlaw; illustrations by Eugene Yelchin

Henry Holt and Co.

ISBN: 978-0-8050-8995-0

Author’s website

 

Won Ton looks through the shelter cage bars.

 

Nice place they got here.

Bed. Bowl. Blankie. Just like home!

Or so I’ve been told.

Visiting hours!

Yawn. I pretend not to care.

Yet — I sneak a peek.

 

Won Ton, a shelter cat, shares his adoption story in this clever and touching story told in haiku (or actually senryu as the author instructs us). Won Ton is a charming protagonist and kids who love cats will recognize their own pets in Won Ton’s fussy habits and prickly personality. The haiku never seem forced and serve as a good introduction to this poetry form.

Enjoy this charming Spider Magazine review of Won Ton written with a French accent (?).

“Perfect pussycat poetry for anyone who has ever loved a shelter cat.” —Starred review, Kirkus Reviews

“[A]n unforgettable character in a shelter cat whose veneer of cynical toughness masks his vulnerability. Won Ton’s sweetly humorous story will steal the hearts of readers young and old.” —Starred review, School Library Journal

“Both the tightly constructed lines and elegant, playful illustrations unerringly imagine a cat’s world, including the characteristic feline seesaw between aloof independence and purring, kneading adoration…[A] wry, heartwarming title that’s sure to find wide acceptance in the classroom and beyond.” —Starred review, Booklist

Looking for more poetry recommendations and resources for the children in your life? Visit Sylvia Vardell’s incredible Poetry for Children blog.

 

Donalyn Miller is a 6th grade language arts teacher at Trinity Meadows Intermediate School in Keller, TX. Donalyn is the author of The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child, and she currently writes a blog, The Book Whisperer, for Education Week Teacher. Donalyn lives atop a dragon’s hoard of unread books and spends her spare time traveling, visiting old friends, and daydreaming in the pages.

The 2011 Graphic Novel Nerdies Go to…

Drumroll please……….

The winners of the first, and hopefully annual, Nerdies are:

Sidekicks by Dan Santat

Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Lunch Lady and the Field Trip Fiasco by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Zita the Spacegirl Ben Hatke

Babymouse #14: Mad Scientist Jennifer Holm, Matthew Holm

Whew, I’m exhausted from the excitement of this. Graphic novels are huge in my classroom, huge. I am beyond excited to see some of my favorites on this list. Have you read them? If you haven’t, no worries, here’s a little round-up on each winner:

Sidekicks by Dan Santat

Author’s website: http://www.dantat.com

Follow on twitter: @dsantat

I own two copies of this book. Neither are ever on my graphic novel shelf, they are passed student to student through the fifth grade. Donalyn Miller calls this a classic superhero story. Metro City’s very own superhero, Captain Amazing, has gotten older and needs a sidekick. There is an announcement; people in town vie for the role but no one more than his four pets. Each wants the time to be with their beloved owner. It is a case of sibling rivalry that any child can understand. The story is compelling, the artwork is amazing. You can easily see why this graphic novel took Santat seven years to create. The book might be best summed up by Colby Sharp, “Superhero sidekick pets=Awesome.”

Great interview with Dan Santat can be found here:

http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com/content/getting-his-sidekicks-dan-santat-interview

***********************************************************

Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Author’s website: http://verabee.com/

Follow on Twitter: @verabee

I’m sorry to say that when I received this list of winning graphic novels, I had not read this book. An immediate trip to my public library remedied this oversight. How had I missed it? Beyond looking at all of my friends’ reviews on Goodreads, all with high praise, Neil Gaiman has a blurb on the front cover! My #nerdybookclub heart just skipped a beat.  (And FYI – his blurb is, “A Masterpiece!” I should just stop there.)

Ok, for any of you who had missed the book as I had, here’s a quick review. Anya struggles to find where she fits in at school. She has one friend, who isn’t even a great one at that. She longs to have Sean notice her, to be more like Elizabeth. Then Anya falls down a well and meets a ghost. What follows is an entertaining, quirky, story that follows Anya as she learns who she is and what she believes in.

You can find a wonderful review of this book here: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2011/12/anyas-ghost.html

***********************************************************

Lunch Lady and the Field Trip Fiasco by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Author’s website: http://www.studiojjk.com/

Follow on Twitter: @StudioJJK

I love Lunch Lady – the entire series. This latest installment doesn’t disappoint. Just read Mr. Schu’s review:

Sweet salami! Lunch Lady is back and fiercer than ever! Hiyah! Thud! Pow!

I should just end there, but I won’t. It this volume the kids, Dee, Hector, and Terrence, are back as they head to the art museum for a field trip. While there they notice something strange, some of the artwork appears to be fake! They, along with the amazing Lunch Ladies, try to get to the bottom of the mystery. Kids love these books, especially all of the Lunch Ladies great gadgets made from items in the kitchen. That always reminds me of James Bond’s scenes with Q and the crazy items he would dream up.

You can find more about the Lunch Lady series from one of its biggest cheerleaders, John Schu:

http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2011/08/updated-lunch-lady-trailer.html

***********************************************************

Zita the Spacegirl Ben Hatke

Author’s website: http://www.househatke.com/

Great series. I was first introduced to Ben Hatke in the graphic novel Flight and was thrilled to find this book by him. Zita and her friend Joseph are out exploring one afternoon when they find a giant pit. Next to the pit is an object with a red button. Joseph tries to convince Zita not to push it, but, like most kids would find, it is just too tempting. Once Zita pushes the button, a portal appears and these giant tentacles take Joseph through to another world. Zita soon follows, determined to rescue her friend. She finds a new world full of wondrous creatures and tons of adventure.

Here’s an interview with Ben Hatke on the School Library Journal’s blog:

http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/goodcomicsforkids/2011/05/20/interview-ben-hatke-on-zita-the-space-girl/

***********************************************************

Babymouse #14: Mad Scientist Jennifer Holm, Matthew Holm

Author’s website: http://www.jenniferholm.com/ and http://www.matthewholm.net/

Follow on Twitter: @jenniholm @mattholm

Couldn’t find a trailer for Mad Scientist, but this one from Jennifer and Matthew wishing you Happy Holidays is timely.

Wow, it is hard to begin to express my love for this series. One, I had a student two years ago who had said she wasn’t a reader. This is the series that convinced her she could read AND that she loved to read. I am forever it debt to Jennifer and Matthew for that. Two, who doesn’t love Babymouse? And, after sharing a video of Colby Sharp declaring, “Real men read Babymouse!” my boys can’t get enough of it. Finally, while wonderful in its own right, this is the book that introduced the world to Squish, so it is fabulous for many reasons.

This installment of Babymouse finds her entering the school Science Fair, determined to win, of course. As she struggles to find a perfect experiment she heads to the local pond to look at “blobs” or amoebas and befriends an amoeba named Squish.

Fun interview found here with both Jennifer and Matthew: http://graphicnovelreporter.com/content/mouse-roars-interview

And that’s a wrap for the graphic novel category! Hopefully you see some of your favorites on our list. If you find a few you didn’t know as I did, head down to your local library. There is some great reading to be had on this list. And before sending you on your way, let me just put in this one last plug for graphic novels. We have a lot of kids out there that struggle in reading. Graphic novels have been a lifeline for some of my students. For some, it is the first books they really understand. For others, it is the first book they actually like. If you haven’t embraced graphic novels yet, please give them a chance. This is a great list to begin with if you are new to them. If you want more recommendations, ask me on Twitter: @katsok.

The 2011 Picture Book Nerdies Go to…

Ladies and Gentlemen! Nerds and Non-nerds!   I am excited to announce the winners for Best Picture Book in the 2011 Nerdy Book Club Awards. Congratulations to the winners and nominees. Thank you to those who nominated picture books and voted.

YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND! by Peter Brown [Little, Brown and Company | Grades K-3]

Lucy, the adorable bear who debuted last year in Children Make Terrible Pets, is back and more enthusiastic than ever. Lucy wants to make a friend more than anything in THE ENTIRE WORLD. She cannot wait to meet her new friend so they can climb trees, go swimming, and do cartwheels together.  Sadly, her search to find a new friend is not easy–most of the forest critters just don’t understand her effervescent personality. Just when Lucy’s feeling hopeless and frustrated, a wonderful thing happens…she makes a FRIEND!  You Will Be My Friend is a must-purchase!

Peter started making picture books when he was six years old. The Adventures of Me and My Dog Buffy was one of his first picture books.

Behind the scenes of YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND!

It takes Peter Brown about a year to make a book.

Watch Peter draw Lucille Beatrice Bear.

Peter Brown is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA and now lives in Brooklyn, NY. His Web site is www.peterbrownstudio.com. – Bio taken from here.

 Happy Pig Day!  and Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems [Hyperion | Grades PreK-2]

Do you think Mo Willems’ successful Elephant and Piggie series will receive two Geisel citations this year? I think it looks promising. Willems is the king of writing distinguished beginning readers and picture books. I didn’t think it was possible, but the Elephant and Piggie series keeps getting better.  Should I Share My Ice Cream? and Happy Pig Day! will make readers laugh, cheer, and  re-read.  Thank you, Mo Willems, for creating beginning readers that beg to be read aloud.

Download an Elephant and Piggie teaching guide.

Mo makes sure all of his characters are simple enough for children to draw.

Becky Anderson, the owner of Anderson’s Bookshop, interviews Mo.

Play the Elephant and Piggie Dance Game.

My work in children’s books, animation, television, theater, and bubble gum card painting have garnered 3 Caldecott Honors, 2 Geisel Medals, a Geisel Honor, 2 Carnegie Medals, 6 Emmys, and multiple bubble gum cards. -Bio taken from here.

 Press Here by Herve Tullet [Chronicle | Grades ALL]

Press Here catches the eye of an enthusiastic kindergartner and a fourth grader who claims he only reads chapter books.  An unknown narrator instructs  and encourages the reader to touch, shake, and blow on the book. Dots change colors, grow, and switch places.  It  is an  interactive reading experience that does not require WiFi, batteries, touch-screen technology, or a mouse. Press HERE to place it on hold at your school or public library.

 

 

Download the Press Here activity guide.

 

 

Hervé Tullet’s website reminds me of Prezi.

 

 

 

 

Hervé Tullet is known in France as the “prince of pre-school books.”

Hervè Tullet has been an art director at various ad agencies, a magazine illustrator, and for the past 15 years, a creator of children’s books. He lives with his two sons and daughter in Paris. -Bio taken from Chronicle’s website.

 Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell [Little, Brown and Company | Grades 1-4 ]

Spend time with the young Jane Goodall and her stuffed toy chimpanzee Jubilee. Jane and her faithful companion watch birds making their nests, read about plants and animals in books, and dream of a life in Africa helping all animals.  It is no surprise Jane grows up to be an animal activist, environmentalist, and a United Nations Messenger of Peace.  Patrick McDonnell’s detailed India ink and watercolor illustrations make this the most beautifully illustrated book of 2011.  Me…Jane proves that childhood dreams can come true.

 

Download the Me…Jane educator’s guide.

 

 

Patrick McDonnell is the creator of the Mutts comic strip, which recently celebrated its fifteenth anniversary, as well as several bestselling children’s books including Wag!, The Gift of Nothing, Just Like Heaven, South, Hug Time, and Art. He has been hailed as “the next Charles Schulz.” Patrick sits on the board of directors of the Humane Society of the United States, with a deep concern for the environment and animal welfare, and has won numerous awards for both Mutts and his animal welfare work. He is the co-creator of Guardians of Being with Eckhart Tolle. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Karen, their formerly feral cat, MeeMow, and their newly adopted terrier, Amelie. -Bio taken from here.

 

 I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen [Candlewick Press | Grades 1-5]

I Want My Hat Back  caused folks to take sides and tweet, “Are you on  #TeamBear or #TeamRabbit?” Twibbons were created, hats sewn, and very opinionated blog posts were tweeted, facebooked, and emailed. Some people decided not to join either camp and formed #TeamSquirrel and #TeamTurtle.  When was the last time a picture book caused such strong reactions and side-taking?

Reading I Want My Hat Back feels like you’re playing the detective game Clue.  Who took Bear’s favorite hat? Was it the friendly frog?  The determined turtle? The loquacious rabbit? The confused armadillo?  Can Bear trust any of the forest critters? Will he ever get his red hat back? The intense and surprising conclusion will leave some kids speechless.

 

 

 

Download a “Read to Us Story-Hour” kit.

 

 

 

“Right now, I live in Los Angeles, California. I’m from Niagara Falls, Ontario, though.” -Bio taken from Jon Klassen’s website.

*******************************************

 

John Schumacher (aka Mr. Schu) is a teacher-librarian at Brook Forest Elementary School in Oak Brook, Illinois. He is a proud member of the Nerdy Book Club.  He has taught English in Seoul, South Korea, and is loving his eighth year at Brook Forest. John serves on ALSC’s Children and Technology committee, AASL’s Best Websites for Teaching and Learning, and two readers’ choice award committees. He was a judge for School Library Journal‘s 2011 Trailee Awards and recently became a FableVision Ambassador. In his spare time (ummm…what’s that?) he reads, travels, and blogs at Watch.Connect.Read.and Two Libraries, One Voice. John is a 2011 Library Journal Mover and Shaker.

The First Annual Nerdies

Last week, we invited nerdy readers everywhere to nominate their favorite children’s and young adult books of 2011 for the first annual Nerdy Book Club Awards, or Nerdies. Over 350 individual titles received nominations in the following categories: picture books, graphic novels, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Working with an expert team of nerdy readers like John Schumacher, Mindi Rench, Katherine Sokolowski, and Cindy Minnich, we winnowed and sorted the books into a final list of titles receiving the most nominations.

We e-mailed, sent texts and direct messages, and talked on the phone as we debated each category and sifted through the nominations to compile the final list.

It was Heaven.

Looking through the nomination spreadsheet, I spent a blissful Saturday afternoon revisiting the wonderful books I have read and shared with my students and colleagues this year. When I saw personal favorites like Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls and Linda Urban’s Hound Dog True show up on the list, I felt a little emotional. Is there anything better than loving a book and discovering that other readers loved it, too? I wanted to track down the readers who nominated these books and have a long book chat.

I don’t think there is anything nerdier than paging through the nominations with browser tabs open to goodreads and Indie Bound while I added and ordered the nominated books I haven’t read, too. After all, you are trusted readers to me and if you think a book is good, I should probably read it.

I hope you enjoy revisiting shelf friends and discover new books to read while looking through the final list of the top 97 books nominated by Nerdy Book Club members this year.

Here comes the painful part. We have to decide among these outstanding books and select our final award winners. The voting ballot is open. I know it’s hard to choose your favorite books, but you can do it. Grab a cup of coffee or a snack and make your nerdy voice heard. Have you ever dreamed of being on a book award committee? Did you know that you are already on one? If you read, you are a voting member of the Nerdy Book Club. It doesn’t matter if you participated in the nominations or not, you can still vote in the Nerdies.

The Survey Monkey ballot will be open until December 17^th. The top five books in every category will be announced in special Nerdies blog posts beginning December 18^th.

But wait, there’s more.

Believing that every reader has value and a voice in this community is the core tenet of the Nerdy Book Club. You love books and reading. You love sharing your impressions of the books you read. You have insights and opinions about what makes a great book special.

We invite you to submit your reviews of the books nominated for the Nerdy Book Club awards. In 100 words or less, submit your comments via email to: thebookwhisperer (at) gmail (dot) com (add Nerdies in the subject line). Tell us why you loved these books, why children love them, and anything else you want to share about the importance of these books to your reading life and your reading communities. You can write as many reviews as you wish. We will select highlights from the reviews and include them in upcoming blog posts. Include your full name with your reviews, so we can credit you.

Let the voting begin!

** A special thanks to John, Mindi, Katherine, and Cindy for participating in the nominations panel. I know that it cut into your reading time.

**Due to popular demand, I have uploaded the entire list, organized alphabetically, into Google Docs. I have also created a goodreads shelf for the nominees if you want to add them to your shelves.

 

Donalyn Miller is a 6th grade language arts teacher at Trinity Meadows Intermediate School in Keller, TX. She currently writes a blog, The Book Whisperer, for Education Week Teacher. Donalyn lives atop a dragon’s hoard of unread books and spends her spare time traveling, visiting old friends, and daydreaming in the pages.

Best Books of 2011

Thank you Tom Angleberger for designing our nerdy logo.

Do you love to read?  Is talking about books something that you can’t live without?

If you answered yes to those questions, congratulations, you are a member of the Nerdy Book Club (NBC).

The NBC has decided to take our love for books to the next level.  We have spent the last year discussing our favorite books: at conferences, #titletalk, #bookaday, Twitter, Goodreads, libraries, on the phone, through email, and in classrooms.  It just seems appropriate that we honor the books we love by naming them “Nerdy Book Club Best Books of 2011″.

This is how things things will work.

1. Nominations

Nominations will run from December 1 to December 8. To nominate please follow this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VZPH2DQ

After nominations close, NBC members will sort through nominations and put together a list of finalists.

2. Voting

A link for voting will be provided on December 11.  Voting will run through December 16.

3. Book List

The NBC Best Books of 2011 will be announced December 18th, at the monthly NBC meeting #titletalk.  For more information on #titletalk please click on the link to go to Colby Sharp’s post on the November Title Talk: http://sharpread.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/november-2011-titletalk/

4. What Next?

We will reveal more activities soon.

5. Nerdy Book Blogs

If you would like your blog added to the Nerdy Book Blog list on the right side of this webpage, please leave a link to your blog in the comments section of this post.